France’s place as one of two EU countries without legalized online casinos could soon be no more.
France is considering the legalization of online casinos for the first time, with the nation hoping to alleviate an increasingly large deficit under newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier, according to a report from BNN Bloomberg.
“Those that exist, which are sometimes operating illegally, must either be closed or be regulated or have to contribute to the national budget via taxes,” Finance Minister Antoine Armand said Tuesday according to the BNN report.
Currently, France and Cyprus are the other EU member states that prohibit online slot machines, though online poker and sports betting have been regulated since 2010 by the National Gaming Authority.
With Barnier and his Republican party aiming to drop France’s budget deficit by a basis point from 6.1% to 5%, the legalization of iGaming is seen by members of the National Assembly and Senate as a potential means to do so, with the issue being broached during the nation’s 2025 budget draft discussions.
“This opening is the result of aligning the gaming framework with our main European neighbors,” a government statement on the iGaming proposal read.
The introduction could also come with a substantial 55.6% effective tax rate, according to the proposed 2025 Finance Bill Draft, further benefiting efforts to eat into France’s budget deficit.
The National Gaming Authority also estimates illegal gambling operations have generated well over one billion euros in revenue over the last year, with a reported 80% of illegal play coming from problem gamblers.
“While one in two consumers of illegal offers are unaware of their illicit nature, playing these games is not without risk,” the government statement added. “There is no approval of the games used, making cheating possible, winnings may not be paid, minors are not protected, bets are not supervised and the theft of personal data is frequent.”
Others oppose effort
While France’s efforts to legalize iGaming could make major inroads in stabilizing the French economy, detractors have also come out against the potential decision, including from France’s Addiction Federation.
“While the number of problem gamblers is already increasing, this reform of considerable magnitude cannot be adopted hastily, without consultation with addiction stakeholders and a debate on its health consequences,” said Catherine Delorme, president of the Addiction Federation. “Legalizing online casinos, by a simple amendment, is not an acceptable process in view of the issues at stake.”
Physical casinos have also spoken out against the measure, with fears that the introduction of online casinos could lead to a revenue drop upwards of 30%, with “catastrophic consequences” to come, according to Barrière President Gregory Rabuel, who heads one of the nation’s largest casino unions.
